Adil Najam
At the new Prime Minister’s oath-taking recently, the body language of Gen. Pervez Musharraf as well as Yousuf Raza Gillani made it obvious that neither was comfortable being with the other. Each has deep reasons to distrust the motives of the other. One doubts, therefore, if they took any time t reminiscence about their college days. Both, after all, went to college at Lahore’s famed Forman Christian (F.C.) College; although at different times.
Had they done so, they would have found that they are a part of a fast growing fraternity of FC Colege (and, now, University) who are now making it to the top offices in Pakistan politics.
Former President Sardar Farooq Leghari was the first one in this new crop of powerful Formanites, but recently there has been an absolute flurry. Gen. Pervez Musharraf as President and Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani as Prime Minister are, of course, Formanites too. But so have been Pakistan Prime Ministers Chaudhry Shujaat and Mohamedmian Soomro, Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi.
None of them seem to flaunt their college colors too hard – except Gen. Musharraf in his memories. Those mentions included, none of them seem to share with the public any lasting memories of their educational exploits at FC College and their is little indication that any of them had made deep marks for scholarship there. That notwithstanding, there is clearly a rise in the number of Formanites in power.
It used to be that Government College (and Aitchison College) were the power schools in Lahore. FC College would give them a run for their money in cricket, but not always in power corridors. That, it seems, has changed. Beware Ravians!
Correction: An earlier version of this post had listed Zafarullah Khan Jamali as an FC College Alumni. We checked after it was pointed out by a reader and, in fact, he was not (he went to Government College it seems). Proof, yet again, that not everything on the internet, especially on Wikipedia, ought to be believed. Our apologies.
Very interesting find. I had not seen this mentioned on media here in Pakistan.
Yes, it used to be always GC but now FC is also showing strong in many areas.
These institutions are contributions in one’s character and outlook. To praise one or blame exclusively for going to certain school/college/university is, therefore, like taking part for the whole. In short a folly. It is silly to base the total evaluation of a person on what schools he/she attended. There are numerous examples of people who achieved eminence despite their relatively poor educational backgrounds. Dr AbdusSalam’s name is one. On top is prophet Muhammad (PBUH) whose only institution is said to be the Cave of Hira. Schooling as a matter of fact makes a tiny part of one’s education. The greatest institution is Life which offers countless opportunities for learning if one has a mind to. A good school is another opportunity, not a guarantee, for good learning. The few names bragging about their graduates in fact tell us something else: these very wizards with first rate schooling have left the rest of the schools to rot. A good upbringing, I believe, never says shit to others. We ought to be happy that we have schools which cotribute positively to nation building. A person of merit is an asset of nation, and the institutions that aim to further this asset deserve a salute. Only spare us this silly bragging!
I am surprised to know that Ch. Shujaat and Parvez Ilahi were ever educated and that too in F.C. College. May be they have been included in the list of the Farmanites inadvertently as they lived in the same street as the college. In any case education, if they at all had received any, had little effect whatsoever on them.
I read it allover the net , listen in tv only.. tell us more !
Hammy
sorry to go on about it
The FC boys can u list the research produced by ur college, how many international publications originating from FC, ur ranking in world (or pakistan). Stop contributing to green house gases by the hot air please!